The Genital modification and mutilation reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Genital modification and mutilation

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Genital modification is a term used to describe changes or body modifications made to the genitals, usually for non-medical reasons. The term genital mutilation is used to describe used to describe modifications which destroy some or all of the functions of the genitalia, especially non-consensual mutilations done without medical reasons.

The use of these terms in controversial, with some people considering any form of genital modification to be mutilation, and others wishing not to express any kind of opinion as to the desirability or otherwise of genital modifications. The term "genital modification" is generally preferred by those who elect to have their genitals modified.

Table of contents
1 Types of genital modifications
2 Genital mutilation
3 Elective genital modification
4 External links

Types of genital modifications

Removal of tissue

Modification of tissue

Addition to tissue

Genital mutilation

Many people consider modifications made to genitals without the alteree's consent to be mutilation. In most cases the term "genital mutilation" refers to genital modifications performed involuntarily on infants or children, often without anesthesia.


Issues surrounding alleged "genital mutilation" became prominent in the English-speaking world in the latter quarter of the 20th century, when opponents of female circumcision, often called female genital mutilation (FGM) made Westerners aware of the practice in African and Muslim countries. In most cases, female circumcision is a social practice, not a religious one. Opposition to alleged male "genital mutilations", mostly in the form of circumcision, has also grown during the same time, especially in countries without a tradition of those types of procedures. See intactivism.

In most cases alleged ritual "genital mutilation" is performed involuntarily on infants or children. Sometimes alleged "genital mutilation" is used as punishment for rape, adultery or other socially forbidden sexual practices. Some societies have historically engaged in castration or penectomy, although this is rare in the modern world. In some cases, people elect to have parts of their genitals cut off or impaled with spikes or rings. See BDSM and body piercing.

Some consider sex reassignment surgery to be a form of genital mutilation if performed without the consent of the individual concerned, for example if performed on a child.


Genital mutilation as punishment

Sometimes genital modification is used as punishment for rape, adultery or other socially forbidden sexual practices. 


Genital modification/mutilation of children

The routine modification of infants' genitals is an old practice that many societies have engaged in during various periods in the past. Some societies have historically engaged in castration or penectomy, although this is rare in the modern world. 

Female circumcision, often called "female genital mutilation (FGM)", is prevalent in many African and Muslim countries, although in most cases it is a social practice, not a religious one. In the last quarter of the 20th century, opponents of female circumcision made Westerners aware of the extent of the practice. Western opposition to female circumcision and most other forms of genital modification performed on infants is fairly universal, although male circumcision remains controversial, as it is still practiced to a considerable extent in the United States and in Jewish communities in other modern Western countries. Opposition to routine circumcision of infant males, sometimes called intactivism, has grown during this time, especially in countries that no longer or never did routinely practice it, although it remains a minority position in the United States, where more than half of infant males are circumcised. The World Health Organization, a United Nations agency, campaigns against female circumcision but not against male circumcision.

Some consider sex reassignment surgery to be a form of genital mutilation if performed without the consent of the individual concerned, for example if performed on a child, such as in the case of children born intersexed.

Some opponents of involuntary genital modification on infants and children argue that "mutilation" is the best term to describe the procedures because the procedures are performed without consent; however, dictionary definitions do not hold up consent as a criterion for separating mutilation from non-mutilation.


Elective genital modification

In some cases, people elect to have their genitals radically altered or pierced with spikes or rings, as an extreme form of body modification. In addition to various types of piercing of genitals, some actually change the form of their genitals, such as by subincision or genital bisection.




External links